Mechanical Engineering Manager in Southampton

Join us to Make an Impact. Innovation is in our DNA. We invented supercontinuum lasers and photonic crystal fibers and we constantly reimagine how our products can be used and improved. Our customers use our products in medical and life science research, quantum computing and space exploration. We seek curious, creative and collaborative people to work in our cutting-edge company. Can you see yourself working in teams and providing solutions for innovators?

JOB OVERVIEW

Responsible for owning and developing processes in the department. Manages the function at the site. The role prioritises and directs the work across sites. Follows the strategic plans for the future direction of the team. Maintains updated subject knowledge to enable the provision of leading edge solutions. Accountability for managing projects that deliver on the organisation’s goals and strategies. Builds effective business project processes.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages processes and systems.
• Ensures the team is working to project milestones.
• Manages the team technically and professionally, setting priorities and expectations and tracking deliverables.
• Plans and prioritises projects, day to day requests and implementation of objectives.
• Coordinates work to timely completion, leading by example.
• Works with other managers functionally, implementing future strategic plans.
• Documents results.
• Maintains relevant databases.
• Ensures site knowledge and cross site consistency of processes.
• Ensures the creation of technical notes and specifications.
• Liaises with R&D on new products.
• Liaises with Production Engineering on delivery of Engineering documentation.
• Updates documentation accordingly.
• Maintains KPIs on department progress against objectives.
• Presents results to Functional Leads.

Responsible for ensuring processes work across other departments. Responsible for ensuring high quality, products, team performance and stakeholder relationships are strong. Ensures issues are resolved. Allocates resources and ensures efficient use of resources, highlighting areas with insufficient resources or excess resources. Maintains department documentation.

KEY INTERACTIONS

• With Directors, with the team.
• With R&D.
• With Production Engineers.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

• Manages Strategic Plans relating to organisational objectives.
• Responsible for implementing Department level goals and KPIs.
• Sets individuals goals and KPIs.
• Responsible for Department level people priorities and initiatives.
• Reports on progress of people initiatives.
• Advises on and monitors policy.
• Guides the team on organisations expectations.
• Accountable for identifying and addressing gaps.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Relevant degree required.
• Relevant qualification an advantage.

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Creating project plans and action plans.
• Team Management skills.
• Knowledge within function of Management.
• Excellent problem solving skills.
• In lasers and photonics.
• Good communication skills, comfortable communicating to all levels and to multiple geographies.
• Understanding of the industry.
• Good documentation skills.
• Calm under pressure.
• Able to keep the team motivated.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• More than five years of experience working within a management role in the function.
• Demonstrated experience managing a function – ideally in the context of multiple geographical regions.
• Experience of working within a manufacturing context.
• Experience working independently managing processes and systems.
• Experience of change management.
• Experience of complex technical projects.
• Customer management experience.
• Relevant technical experience.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

Up to 20% annually, potentially globally.